Cosmopolitan Range Of Dishes For School Dinners

Parents of Primary school children across Carmarthenshire have received a copy of the summer school dinners menu showing a great diversity of dishes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

With up to 9,000 hot meals served up every day, Carmarthenshire County Council’s catering team have a cosmopolitan mix of traditional favourites and modern dishes to suit all palates. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The dishes have a world-wide flavour ranging from chicken korma and chicken tikka wraps, naan breads or rice, giving children a taste of Asian cuisine and spaghetti bolognese, pizza and pasta bake offering a taste of Italian fare. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Traditional British meals also feature, with roast turkey, beef or pork dinners every Wednesday and ‘chip shop fish’ served with chips or boiled potatoes amongst the highlights on the menu. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The menu has been laid out for parents to see the balance of each meal including the main, the veg, the carb, and the dessert. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Vegetables include mixed salad and coleslaw, baked beans or peas, or carrot and cucumber and green beans. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Carbohydrates include jacket wedges, mashed or wedged potatoes, or garlic bread, and an occasional Friday treat of chips. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Desserts include chocolate brownies, apple muffins jam buns or raisins and fruit. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Each meal is served with a drink of water, milk or fruit juice. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Catering services manager Helen Bailey said: “We were pleased to design this menu based on feedback from children and parents. They suggested we improve the layout of the menu to illustrate how meals are nutritionally balanced and have the correct balance of protein, carbs, fresh fruit and veg. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“School meals are a great way to ensure children have a well balanced diet and the energy and concentration they need to do their best in their classrooms. They are also convenient for parents, who do not need to worry about creating a well-balanced packed lunch that will remain fresh until lunchtime.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• The cost of school meals is £2.40 a day, but your children may be eligible for free meals if you are in receipt of certain benefits. You can apply online 24/7 on the council’s website, visit: http://ilocal.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/apply-request/